golfmom

We will be staying in Denver for three nights in June. We have stayed at various places during our daughter's four years at DU: Brown Palace, two different Bed and Breakfasts, and the JW Marriott at Cherry Creek. This time we want to be close to campus and spend more money on meals than lodging. I've narrowed our search to the Hilton Garden Inn (room with mountain view) for $385 or the Hampton Inn and Suites (request mountain view when checking in) for $340. We plan on having breakfast at Snooze, so the free breakfast at the Hampton Inn isn't a draw. Reviews are similar - sort of. There will be three or four of us, so we need a room with two queens. I'm sure both places are in very busy areas. Which location would you suggest? Thanks.

Gretchen

Someone stayed at a place on Colfax and had a really surprisingly good result. I'm sure there wasn't a mountain view. That's a bunch of money to me--maybe not so much split, but....!! Have you looked on Priceline?

golfmom

I haven't thought about using Priceline because we need two beds for three+ people; I always thought that Priceline was for a room for two people. Maybe I'm confused about this. Of these two locations, which do you prefer? It's a toss up with the reviews.

PeaceOut

I know both of those hotels, and have stayed at the Hampton. They are both so similar, I'd just go for the cheapest.

BUT those prices sound way too high. And going out to breakfast each of three mornings might not be what you want to do, so maybe the free breakfast is something to re-consider. Snooze can be way overcrowded with a wait line in the mornings. Doesn't the Hilton Garden Inn offer free breakfast? I think they all do.

However, I'd look around more. For instance, I checked prices at the Loews which is a few blocks further south, off Colorado Blvd, and they had rooms with views and two beds for $209, and free parking. I think they have double beds, though. http://www.loewshotels.com/en/bookin...ode=&na=3&nk=0

The Marriott Courtyard also has much better prices, and have suites with a kind bed and sofabed:
https://www.marriott.com/reservation/rateListMenu.mi

None of these are especially close to DU, though. You probably know that. I will think about some others. You could even stay downtown or the tech center, for that matter.

golfmom

Thanks for the suggestion regarding Loews. I wasn't clear, but the prices I listed are totals for all three nights, including a DU discount. Since these two choices are fairly similar in price, do you prefer one over the other? Or is it a wash?

We may not go to Snooze for all three breakfasts, but the food is so good that we may try!

PeaceOut

Oh, that makes more sense!

I think those two are pretty much a draw. The Hampton is next door to a 24/7 Starbucks and Barnes & Noble bookstore, so its location might be more appealing.

The Holiday Inn is near a Target store, but it's across Colorado Blvd which is a busy street.

For the $45 savings, I think I'd spend that money on lunch!

Have fun. You are sure planning in advance! Is it for graduation?

golfmom

Yes, it's graduation. Four years has gone by in a flash.

PeaceOut

Congrats!

golfmom

PeaceOut, You mentioned "The Holiday Inn" and I'm looking at Hilton Garden Inn instead. Maybe all these places are interchangeable, but does this make any difference as to your preference? Just in case....

PeaceOut

Sorry, my mistake. I meant the Hilton Garden Inn (a chain I like better than Holiday Inn).

PeaceOut

So I double-checked the location of the Hilton Garden Inn, and it is a few blocks further south than I was thinking. So it is not across from Target. There are some stores on that side of the street, and the Nordstrom Rack is even a walking distance on the same side of the street. I think this property used to be a Sheraton or something else. I did stay there once, many years ago. It is a nice building.

So it's a total toss-up.

BetsyG

golfmom - get to graduation early, it fills up quickly. We went through it last June. Congratulations!

Gretchen

very relieved that those are for totals!! Have fun. Have you ever gone to Five Green Boxes on Pearl Street? I think when we have gone we've passed DU, so it shouldn't be too far. FUN little quirky shop.